Homespeak

Hi,

Can anyone help me with information on Homespeak. I found the brochure on the CIS website but can't find anything else on the product.

Thanks in advance

Jannie

 

HomeSpeak and what it is

The HomeSpeak software is a package that runs over top of Dragon Naturally speaking. The idea is that you talk into a microphone using natural english and control C-Bus. You have to assign a name to the computer so that it can tell what you are saying is a command. Then it speaks back through a speaker.

Let's say you call your computer HAL then you would say, "HAL turn on my bedroom lights please" and it would say "Jack's Bedroom Lights on" and then turn on the lights. Or, "HAL open the pod bay door" and it will say, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that".

The software configures the project on the basis of areas and users and ownership. It's quite cool. You have to have the microphone right near your mouth for good signal to noise ratio and it takes a bit of configuration but it's great for people with limited mobility.

 

The reason for the lack of information on the Homespeak product on the CIS Website is similar to C-Gate ( Multi-license).

They are sold via the CIS Integrator network ( in australia ) , hence lack of information to the general public on support issues.

 

The scary thing is, We're a C-Bus integrator, part of the 'network', yet I battle to find information on C-Bus products.

 

I suspect that until micraphone technology and voice recognicion software improve the applications of and uses for products like HomeSpeake will be limited (personal opinion - I think its a toy and I can't think of one installation that will be improved by its inclusion), the lack of response from this forum to this question indicates that the use of this product is vertually nill, don't feel so bad about it jannie just get on with the loads of C-bus stuff that is useful.

 

Speech recognition is a viable input method for home automation, in addition to other user input devices such as touch screens, portable panels, PDA's, IR & RF remotes and cellular systems.

Except for specialised applications, speech recognition today is a supplementary access method to the others due to inherent limitations such as recognition rate and microphone technology.

I'm looking for a speech recognition system that could be used in a generic application, i.e. not just with C-Bus.

Any ideas?